"There's rhyme, reason and purpose to everything. Pay attention!"

Christmas with the Blue Platter #2

We love Christmas at our house. When asking our youngest if he was going to be able to make it home for Christmas, his response was “Of course, I want to be able to continue to claim my last name!” Enough said. Everybody, and I mean everybody, shows up at our house during the Christmas season.

It starts with the ‘Eve of the Eve’ party that began more than 30 years ago when our oldest became so upset. Our then 4-year old cried, “You have all these parties to go to and I don’t have any!”. Thus began the first ‘Eve of the Eve’ when all his 4-year old buddies and their parents were invited to our house for a cookie swap party.

The party has evolved many times over the years. There was the year when Santa showed up totally by surprise. All the little ones (and the hosts) were amazed that Santa found us before Christmas. Then the year we changed the date at the request of two of the regular attendees who were having the rehearsal dinner for their wedding on that date. They didn’t want to miss the party! And the year all of the ‘kids’ turned 21 and we ran out of wine and beer. Memories. So many wonderful transitions have occurred at that party.

Once upon a time, when the kiddos were little, we had plenty of room in our little cottage by the road. Then they started bringing their girlfriends and boyfriends. Those faces and personalities changed throughout the college years and just beyond. Then they brought their fiancee, wife, husband, and now their children. Needless to say, the small cottage is no longer big enough.

So what did we do? Rent a 3-sided, heated tent to cover the patio. It’s an exciting journey through the holidays at our house.

This year the big event was the rain, and it rained, and it rained, and it rained. The good news? It stopped raining long enough for people to get in the door and we didn’t need the heater!!

Next we’ll be on to the New Year! Hope you have a blessed and happy 2016.